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WIMBLEDON ‘17: Roger Federer seeks record 8th championship

Howard Fendrich
Associated Press
FILE - In this June 11, 2017, file photo, Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka returns the ball to Spain's Rafael Nadal during their final match of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros stadium, in Paris. Wawrinka won at the Australian Open in 2014, the French Open in 2015 and the U.S. Open in 2016, but never made it past the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
AP | AP

Men to watch at Wimbledon, where play begins Monday:

———

ANDY MURRAY



Seeded: 1

Ranked: 1



Age: 30

Country: Britain

2017 Match Record: 21-9

2017 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 45

Major Titles: 3 — Wimbledon (‘13, ‘16), U.S. Open (‘12)

Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-Won Championship, ‘15-Lost in Semifinals, ‘14-QF, ‘13-W, ‘12-Runner-Up

Aces: After run to French Open semifinals, lost opener at Queen’s Club grass-court tuneup, then withdrew from an exhibition match, citing a sore hip. … Made at least QFs in each of last nine appearances at All England Club.

Topspin: Murray’s comfort level, and crowd support, at Wimbledon are both so strong that he can’t be ruled out as a serious title contender.

———

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Seeded: 2

Ranked: 4

Age: 30

Country: Serbia

2017 Match Record: 24-7 (entering Eastbourne tournament)

2017 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 67

Major Titles: 12 — French Open (‘16), Australian Open (‘08, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘15, ‘16), Wimbledon (‘11, ‘14, ‘15), U.S. Open (‘11, ‘15)

Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-3rd, ‘15-W, ‘14-W, ‘13-RU, ‘12-SF

Aces: After losing in French Open quarterfinals, entered grass-court tuneup for first time since 2010. … Since 2016 French Open made him first man since Rod Laver in 1969 with four consecutive major championships, failed to defend any of those titles.

Topspin: Djokovic’s once-impervious aura has disappeared. Will unusual part-time coaching arrangement with Andre Agassi pay more dividends in London than it did in Paris?

———

ROGER FEDERER

Seeded: 3

Ranked: 5

Age: 35

Country: Switzerland

2017 Match Record: 24-2

2017 Singles Titles: 4

Career Singles Titles: 92

Major Titles: 18 — Wimbledon (‘03, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘09, ‘12), U.S. Open (‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08), Australian Open (‘04, ‘06, ‘07, ‘10, ‘17), French Open (‘09)

Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-SF, ‘15-RU, ‘14-RU, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-W

Aces: After skipping clay-court season, then losing first match on grass, looked back at his best in winning title at Halle, Germany. … Seeks record-breaking eighth Wimbledon men’s title.

Topspin: Simply can’t count Federer out, as his Australian Open championship in January proved after missing last half of 2016. Time off does him good, clearly.

———

RAFAEL NADAL

Seeded: 4

Ranked: 2

Age: 31

Country: Spain

2017 Match Record: 43-6

2017 Singles Titles: 4

Career Singles Titles: 73

Major Titles: 15 — French Open (‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘10, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘17), Wimbledon (‘08, ‘10), U.S. Open (‘10, ‘13), Australian Open (‘09)

Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-Did Not Play, ‘15-2nd, ‘14-4th, ‘13-1st, ‘12-2nd

Aces: Enters Wimbledon on a three-week break from competition since winning record 10th French Open title. … Has won a total of five Wimbledon matches over past five years.

Topspin: If his knees hold up, could return to the form that carried him to the final in five consecutive appearances, including two trophies, from 2006-11.

———

STAN WAWRINKA

Seeded: 5

Ranked: 3

Age: 32

Country: Switzerland

2017 Match Record: 26-10

2017 Singles Titles: 1

Career Singles Titles: 16

Major Titles: 3 — French Open (‘15), Australian Open (‘14), U.S. Open (‘16)

Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-2nd, ‘15-QF, ‘14-QF, 13-1st, ‘12-1st

Aces: A Wimbledon championship would make him the ninth man with a career Grand Slam. … After run to Roland Garros final, lost opener on grass at Queen’s Club.

Topspin: Never past quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 12 appearances, needs to stick to an attacking style to try to make a breakthrough.

———

MILOS RAONIC

Seeded: 6

Ranked: 7

Age: 26

Country: Canada

2017 Match Record: 22-8

2017 Singles Titles: 0

Career Singles Titles: 8

Major Titles: 0 — Best: RU, Wimbledon (‘16)

Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-RU, ‘15-3rd, ‘14-SF, ‘13-2nd, ‘12-2nd

Aces: One of four men with 400 aces this season. … First major semifinal and final appearances came at Wimbledon.

Topspin: Big serve carried him to 2016 final and could bring him far again — as long as his body holds up.

———

ALEXANDER ZVEREV

Seeded: 10

Ranked: 12

Age: 20

Country: Germany

2017 Match Record: 33-12

2017 Singles Titles: 3

Career Singles Titles: 4

Major Titles: 0 — Best: 3rd, French Open (‘16), Australian Open (‘17), Wimbledon (‘16)

Last 5 Wimbledons: ‘16-3rd, ‘15-2nd, ‘14-DNP, ‘13-DNP, ‘12-DNP

Aces: Recently made top-10 ranking debut. … Slid out after first-round French Open exit.

Topspin: By reaching final at grass tuneup, showed his game translates to the slick surface. Now needs to get to second week of a major.


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